Package receiving device, kit for assembling the same, and corresponding methods of manufacturing, assembling and operating associated thereto

Abstract

A package receiving device ( 1 ) for receiving a package ( 3 ) includes a mounting panel ( 5 a ), a bottom panel ( 5 b ) and at least one side panel ( 7 ). The package receiving device ( 1 ) and corresponding panels ( 5,7 ) thereof being operable in at least one first configuration where the mounting, bottom and side panels ( 5 a, 5 b, 7 ) are collapsed onto one another into a reduced space, with the at least one side panel ( 7 ) being placeable between the bottom and mounting panels ( 5 b, 5 a ), and being containable within a spanning width ( 1 ) defined by the bottom and mounting panels ( 5 b, 5 a ). The package receiving device ( 1 ) and corresponding panels ( 5,7 ) thereof being further operable in at least one second configuration where the panels ( 5,7 ) are deployed and positioned with respect to one another in order to define a containment space being shaped and sized for containing the package ( 3 ) therein.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A package receiving device for receiving a package, the package receiving device comprising:
 a mounting panel for securely mounting the package receiving device onto a given fixed structure; 
 a bottom panel being operatively connectable to the mounting panel and being moveable with respect to said mounting panel; and 
 at least one side panel being operatively connectable to the bottom panel and being moveable with respect to said bottom panel; 
 the package receiving device and the panels thereof being operable between at least one first configuration where the mounting, bottom and side panels are collapsed onto one another into a reduced space, with the at least one side panel being placeable between the bottom and mounting panels, and being containable within a spanning width defined by said bottom and mounting panels, the package receiving device and the thereof being further operable into at least one second configuration where the panels are deployed and positioned with respect to one another in order to define a containment space being shaped and sized for containing the package therein; 
 wherein the at least side panel includes at least one pair of side panels; 
 wherein each side panel is hingedly movable with respect to the mounting panel of the package receiving device for operation between a first configuration where each side panel is operatively urged against the mounting panel, and a second configuration where each side panel is drawn away from said mounting panel; 
 wherein each side panel is drawn away from the mounting panel via a pivoting action by pulling laterally on said each side panel; 
 wherein each side panel is hingedly movable with respect to the mounting panel of the package receiving device via at least one corresponding hinge; 
 wherein each side panel is hingedly movable with respect to the bottom panel of the package receiving device for operation between a first configuration where each side panel is operatively urged against the bottom panel, and a second configuration where each side panel is drawn away from said bottom panel; 
 wherein each side panel is drawn away from the bottom panel via a pivoting action by pulling upwardly on said each side panel; 
 wherein each side panel is hingedly movable with respect to the bottom panel of the package receiving device via at least one corresponding hinge; 
 wherein the at least one pair of side panels includes left and right lateral panels; wherein the at least side panel includes at least one frontal panel; 
 wherein the at least one frontal panel is hingedly movable with respect to the bottom panel of the package receiving device for operation between a first configuration where the at least one frontal panel is operatively urged against the bottom panel, and a second configuration where the at least one frontal panel is drawn away from said bottom panel; 
 wherein the at least one frontal panel is drawn away from the bottom panel via a pivoting action by pulling upwardly on said at least one frontal panel; and 
 wherein the at least one frontal panel is hingedly movable with respect to the bottom panel of the package receiving device via at least one corresponding hinge. 
 
     
     
       2. A package receiving device according to  claim 1 , wherein the mounting panel includes at least one mounting component for mounting the package receiving device onto the given fixed structure. 
     
     
       3. A package receiving device according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom panel is hingedly movable with respect to the mounting panel of the package receiving device for operation between a first configuration where the bottom panel is operatively urged against the mounting panel, and a second configuration where the bottom panel is drawn away from said mounting panel;
 wherein the bottom panel is drawn away from the mounting panel via a pivoting action by pulling downwardly on said bottom panel; and 
 wherein the bottom panel is hingedly movable with respect to the mounting panel of the package receiving device via at least one corresponding hinge. 
 
     
     
       4. A package receiving device according to  claim 1 , wherein the package receiving device comprises at least one dampening system for dampening a movement of the bottom panel with respect to the mounting panel;
 wherein the at least one dampening system including a first extremity operatively connectable to the mounting panel and a second extremity operatively connectable to the bottom panel; and 
 wherein the at least one dampening system includes first and second dampening systems disposed on left and right sides respectively of the package receiving device. 
 
     
     
       5. A package receiving device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the package receiving device includes at least one top panel; 
 wherein the at least one top panel is hingedly movable with respect to the mounting panel of the package receiving device for operation between a first configuration where the at least one top panel is operatively urged against the mounting panel, and a second configuration where the at least one top panel is drawn away from said mounting panel; 
 wherein the at least one top panel is drawn away from the mounting panel via a pivoting action by pulling on said at least one top panel; and 
 wherein the at least one top panel is hingedly movable with respect to the mounting panel of the package receiving device via at least one corresponding hinge. 
 
     
     
       6. A package receiving device according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one top panel is provided with a locking mechanism configured to interact with at least one corresponding side panel of the package receiving device when operated in the at least one second configuration, so as to selectively lock the at least one top panel in place, thereby preventing a non-authorized user of the package receiving device from accessing a package placed inside said package receiving device the packaging receiving device further having at least one of the following components and features:
 wherein the locking mechanism is configured to interact between at least the at least one top panel and at least one first side panel; 
 wherein the locking mechanism is further configured to interact between the at least one top panel and at least one other side panel; 
 wherein the locking mechanism is further configured to interact between the at least one top panel and both left and right lateral panels; 
 wherein the locking mechanism includes a one-time latch so to be maintained in a locked configuration when activated; and 
 wherein the one-time latch is configured to be opened with a corresponding key or combination owned by an authorized user of the package receiving device. 
 
     
     
       7. A package receiving device according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one top panel includes first and second top panels being hingedly connectable to one another one, the packaging receiving device further having at least one of the following components and features:
 wherein the first and second top panels are hingedly connectable to one another one via at least one corresponding hinge; and 
 wherein the at least one corresponding hinge is spring-loaded via at least one corresponding spring for being biased into a deployed configuration. 
 
     
     
       8. A package receiving device according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one top panel includes at least one retaining component being positioned, shaped and sized for cooperating with at least one top portion of at least one associated side panel for maintaining said at least one associated side panel in place when the package receiving device is operated in the at least one second configuration, the packaging receiving device further having at least one of the following components and features:
 wherein the at least one retaining component comprises at least one groove for receiving a portion of a top edge of the at least one associated side panel; 
 wherein the at least one retaining component comprises at least one lateral groove for receiving a portion of a top edge of a corresponding side panel; 
 wherein the at least one retaining component comprises at least left and right lateral grooves for receiving portions of top edges of left and right lateral panels respectively; and 
 wherein the at least one retaining component comprises at least one front groove for receiving a portion of a top edge of at least one frontal panel. 
 
     
     
       9. A package receiving device according to  claim 5 , wherein the panels are positioned, shaped and sized so that the at least one top panel is located between the bottom and mounting panels when the package receiving device is operated in the at least one first configuration, and
 wherein the panels are further positioned, shaped and sized so that the at least one top panel is located between the at least one side panel and the mounting panel when the package receiving device is operated in the at least one first configuration. 
 
     
     
       10. A package receiving device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the package receiving device comprises a magnetic retainment system for retaining adjacent panels together when the package receiving device is operated into the at least one second configuration, the packaging receiving device further having at least one of the following components and features: 
 wherein the magnetic retainment system includes at least one corresponding magnet being provided about a first side panel, said at least one corresponding magnet being positioned, shaped and sized, and having a magnetic capability, for retaining thereagainst a second side panel adjacent to the first side panel, when said second side panel is deployed up against the first side panel; 
 wherein the at least one corresponding magnet includes a spring-loaded magnet; 
 wherein the spring-loaded magnet is a spring-loaded ceramic magnet; 
 wherein the magnetic retainment system includes at least one metal magnet docking plate; 
 wherein the at least one corresponding magnet is provided about a frontal panel of the package receiving device, said at least one corresponding magnet being positioned, shaped and sized, and having a magnetic capability, for retaining thereagainst a corresponding lateral panel; and 
 wherein the at least one corresponding magnet comprises a pair of such corresponding magnets, one being used for retaining thereagainst a left lateral panel, and another one being used for retaining thereagainst a right lateral panel, when the left and right lateral panels are deployed up against the frontal panel respectively. 
 
     
     
       11. A package receiving device according to  claim 1 , the packaging receiving device further having at least one of the following components and features:
 wherein the package receiving device includes a set of information and/or instructions for a user of said package receiving device; 
 wherein the set of information and/or instructions is provided an inner side of at least one corresponding panel of the package receiving device; 
 wherein the set of information and/or instructions is provided an inner side and upper portion of the mounting panel of the package receiving device; 
 wherein the package receiving device includes a user identification code associated to a user of said package receiving device; 
 wherein the user identification code is provided an inner side of at least one corresponding panel of the package receiving device; 
 wherein the user identification code is provided an inner side and upper portion of the mounting panel of the package receiving device; 
 wherein the user identification code includes a bar code; 
 wherein the at least one side panel is a substantially rectangular side panel; 
 wherein the containment space defined by the panels when deployed and positioned with respect to one another into the at least one second configuration correspond substantially to a rectangular prism; 
 wherein the at least one side panel is made of a transparent material; 
 wherein the at least one side panel is made of a translucid material; 
 wherein the at least one side panel is made of an opaque material; and 
 wherein the at least one side panel is a meshed panel. 
 
     
     
       12. A package receiving device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one side panel is spring-loaded via at least one corresponding spring for being biased into the at least one second configurations, and
 wherein the at least one corresponding spring includes a spring selected from the group consisting of a radial spring and a torsional spring. 
 
     
     
       13. A package receiving device according to  claim 1 , wherein the package receiving device comprises at least one side fingerguard for laterally covering a side portion of the containment space when the package receiving device is operated into the at least one second configuration, the packaging receiving device further having at least one of the following components and features:
 wherein the at least one side fingerguard is hingedly connectable with respect to the mounting panel of the package receiving device for operation between a first configuration where the at least one side fingerguard is operatively urged against the mounting panel, and a second configuration where at least one side fingerguard is drawn away from said mounting panel; 
 wherein the at least one side fingerguard is drawn away from the mounting panel via a pivoting action by pulling laterally on said at least one side fingerguard; 
 wherein the at least one side fingerguard is spring-loaded via at least one corresponding spring for being biased into a deployed configuration; and 
 wherein the package receiving device comprises at least one pair of side fingerguards for laterally covering left and right-side portions respectively of the containment space when the package receiving device is operated into the at least one second configuration. 
 
     
     
       14. A package receiving device according to  claim 1 , wherein the package receiving device includes at least one covering panel being positioned, shaped and sized for covering the panels of the package receiving device when operated in the at least one first configuration, the packaging receiving device further having at least one of the following components and features:
 wherein the at least one covering panel is mountable onto an outermost side of the bottom panel; 
 wherein the at least one covering panel is slidably mountable onto a corresponding track of the outermost side of the bottom panel; 
 wherein the at least one covering panel includes at least one rounded edge; 
 wherein the at least one covering panel includes a pair of distally-apart rounded side edges; 
 wherein the at least one covering panel is provided with an outer layer made similar to a surrounding environment of the package receiving device; and 
 wherein components of the package receiving device are made of a weather resistant material; 
 wherein components of the package receiving device are protected with a weather resistant layer. 
 
     
     
       15. A package receiving device according to  claim 1 , wherein the package receiving device includes a slot for receiving mail therethrough, the packaging receiving device further having at least one of the following components and features:
 wherein the slot for receiving mail is provided with an adjacent symbol being representative of mail for indicating to user of the package receiving device an intended use of said slot; 
 wherein the slot is provided about an upper portion of the package receiving device when operated in the at least one first configuration; and 
 wherein the slot is operatively provided about the bottom panel of the package receiving device. 
 
     
     
       16. A package receiving device according to  claim 1 , wherein the package receiving device includes a pulling component, the packaging receiving device further having at least one of the following components and features:
 wherein the pulling component includes a corresponding recess integrated about a corresponding panel of the package receiving device; 
 wherein the pulling component is operatively provided about the bottom panel of the package receiving device; and 
 wherein the pulling component is operatively defined by slot of the bottom panel of the package receiving device. 
 
     
     
       17. A package receiving device according to  claim 1 , wherein the package receiving device includes a drainage system for draining liquid accumulated in the containment space;
 wherein the drainage system includes at least one component selected from the group consisting of draining hole and drainage channel; 
 wherein the drainage system is provided about an inner side of the bottom panel; and 
 wherein the inner side of the bottom panel is provided with at least one centralized drainage hole and a series of converging drainage channels. 
 
     
     
       18. A package receiving device according to  claim 1 , wherein the package receiving device includes at least one light emitting device, the packaging receiving device further having at least one of the following components and features:
 wherein the at least one light emitting device is provided about a lower portion of the package receiving device when operated in the at least one first configuration; 
 wherein the at least one light emitting device is operatively provided about the bottom panel of the package receiving device; 
 wherein the at least one light emitting device includes a dusk sensor and is operable during low-light conditions; 
 wherein the at least one light emitting device is operatively connectable to a source of energy; 
 wherein the at least one light emitting device includes at least one light emitting diode (LED); 
 wherein the at least one light emitting device includes a pair of light emitting devices, each being disposed about a corresponding side of the package receiving device; 
 wherein the package receiving device is commercialized under a given trademark name, and wherein the given trademark name is present on the at least one covering panel so as to be visible when the package receiving device is operated in the at least one first configuration; and 
 wherein the package receiving device comprises at least one railing component for installing the package receiving device onto a corresponding railing. 
 
     
     
       19. A kit for assembling the package receiving device according to  claim 1 , the kit comprising: corresponding components. 
     
     
       20. A package receiving device for receiving a package, the package receiving device comprising:
 a mounting panel for securely mounting the package receiving device onto a given fixed structure; 
 a bottom panel being operatively connectable to the mounting panel and being moveable with respect to said mounting panel; and 
 at least one side panel being operatively connectable to the bottom panel and being moveable with respect to said bottom panel; 
 the package receiving device and the panels thereof being operable between at least one first configuration where the mounting, bottom and side panels are collapsed onto one another into a reduced space, with the at least one side panel being placeable between the bottom and mounting panels, and being containable within a spanning width defined by said bottom and mounting panels, the package receiving device and the thereof being further operable into at least one second configuration where the panels are deployed and positioned with respect to one another in order to define a containment space being shaped and sized for containing the package therein; 
 wherein the at least one top panel is provided with a locking mechanism configured to interact with at least one corresponding side panel of the package receiving device when operated in the at least one second configuration, so as to selectively lock the at least one top panel in place, thereby preventing a non-authorized user of the package receiving device from accessing a package placed inside said package receiving device the packaging receiving device further having at least one of the following components and features: 
 wherein the locking mechanism is configured to interact between at least the at least one top panel and at least one first side panel; 
 wherein the locking mechanism is further configured to interact between the at least one top panel and at least one other side panel; wherein the locking mechanism is further configured to interact between the at least one top panel and both left and right lateral panels; 
 wherein the locking mechanism includes a one-time latch so to be maintained in a locked configuration when activated; and 
 wherein the one-time latch is configured to be opened with a corresponding key or combination owned by an authorized user of the package receiving device. 
 
     
     
       21. A package receiving device for receiving a package, the package receiving device comprising:
 a mounting panel for securely mounting the package receiving device onto a given fixed structure; 
 a bottom panel being operatively connectable to the mounting panel and being moveable with respect to said mounting panel; and 
 at least one side panel being operatively connectable to the bottom panel and being moveable with respect to said bottom panel; 
 the package receiving device and the panels thereof being operable between at least one first configuration where the mounting, bottom and side panels are collapsed onto one another into a reduced space, with the at least one side panel being placeable between the bottom and mounting panels, and being containable within a spanning width defined by said bottom and mounting panels, the package receiving device and the thereof being further operable into at least one second configuration where the panels are deployed and positioned with respect to one another in order to define a containment space being shaped and sized for containing the package therein; 
 wherein the package receiving device includes a slot for receiving mail therethrough, the packaging receiving device further having at least one of the following components and features: 
 wherein the slot for receiving mail is provided with an adjacent symbol being representative of mail for indicating to user of the package receiving device an intended use of said slot; 
 wherein the slot is provided about an upper portion of the package receiving device when operated in the at least one first configuration; and 
 wherein the slot is operatively provided about the bottom panel of the package receiving device.